Selling your home and planning a move? Thorough planning is the key to an easy move. Experience tells us most moves take 8 to 10 weeks from start to finish, so start early. Here's your 8-week guide:

8 WEEKS BEFORE THE MOVE
  • Call for estimates from professional movers
  • Draw a floorplan of your new home. Use decorating charts and a grid to place furniture to scale in each room and decide which furniture to move, and which to dispose of, replace or add.
6 WEEKS BEFORE THE MOVE
  • Inventory all possessions. Decide what to move, sell, replace or donate to charity.
  • Complete Canada Post change of address forms, mail to media, stores, organization.
  • Obtain copies of all medical, dental, legal, accounting, and veterinarian records.
  • Make…

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Regardless the community you live in, home security should always be top of mind. You want to protect one of the biggest investments you've made, your home, and the valuables inside. Here are some easy tips for a safer home: 

Change all the locks when you move to a new home

When you move to a new home, or when you lose your keys, be sure to change the locks. You don't want anyone else to have access to your home. 

Don’t leave hidden keys outside your home

While it might seem convenient when you forget your keys, leaving a spare set of keys outside your door is a gift to burglars. Never leave keys under floor mats or under rugs, etc. 

Install exterior security lighting

Most home entrances lack proper lighting. If you’re home entrance is…

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For the third year in a row, the northwest community of Arbour Lake has been named one of Calgary's Best Neighbourhoods by Avenue Magazine. The ranking comes as a result of the magazine's annual survey, the results of which were released this morning. 

Arbour Lake is Northwest Calgary's only lake community, featuring a trout stocked, 10 acre lake, mountain views, and a plethora of parks and walkways. Located in the community is the brand new state of the art public high school, Robert Thirsk. At the heart of the community is the Arbour Lake Community Centre which runs several programs throughout the winter and summer.

Arbour Lake is truly a community that has it all. Located next to Crowfoot Crossing, one of the largest outdoor malls in Calgary,…

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You've made the decision to sell, now what? Here's a simple checklist to ensure you're ready for what's next. Here's an easy checklist to get you ready:

Price it Right

  • Your best chance to sell your property is within the first seven weeks. The longer the property stays on the market, the less the seller will net. 
  • Over-pricing can reduce the number of offers that you're likely to get.

Clean and Organize

  • Eliminate clutter
  • Keep your home clean
  • Get rid of any looming odours 
  • It's also a good idea to rid your home of any sign of pets.

Make the Home Accessible

  • Be sure to make your home easily accessible for showings
  • Keep all interior doors unlocked, and don't be around during showings. If something is kept…

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Thinking of making the move to homeownership? Great! First there are some questions you should ask yourself to properly prepare for the exciting process ahead of you.

ARE YOU READY TO BUY?

Owning your own home is about more than just being able to decorate any way you like; it's about being prepared to maintain your home over the years, realizing that part of your income and time will go towards repairs and maintenance. It's about being willing to take the risks of home ownership with a realistic expectation of the rewards.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU AFFORD?

It can be discouraging to find that your salary won't stretch as far as the home you want to own. However, sacrificing a huge part of your income just to pay the mortgage can very quickly make home…

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If you're unfamiliar with the Edgemont Beautification Project, it's a community initiative focused on improving appearance via landscaping, plantings and maintenance throughout Edgemont. 

These upgraded maintenance programs make a significant difference in communities.  Hamptons, Citadel and most recently Hawkwood, all have them in place and they have really made a big difference in those communities.  Possible improvements listed on the petition website are as follows:

  • Raised planting beds
  • Cement pots
  • Mowing
  • Watering
  • Flowers
  • Fertilizer
  • Shrubs/grasses
  • Trees
  • Litter control
  • Weed management

There are now more than 100 volunteer committee members and canvassers actively working together on the project, and the support…

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The suburbs are still the number one choice for Calgarians choosing to buy (according to the 2014 City of Calgary census), and if you've never considered living in the suburbs, they have a lot to offer. There are some common misconceptions about living the suburbs that may be holding you back, and we're going to dispell them right now.

The suburbs are too far from everything: this couldn't be farther from the truth in Calgary. Calgary's suburb communities are self-sustaining neighbourhoods which all have easy access to major roadways and transportation options. Almost every suburb community in Calgary is within a 20-minute drive to downtown.

There's no amenities: again, each suburb community in Calgary is self-sustaining. There are plenty of…

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A financial area that homebuyers often forget to budget for is closing costs. Whether you're selling or buying Northwest Calgary homes, there will be certain costs associated with the finalization of the transaction that you should be prepared for. This is a brief rundown, and just a guideline, your REALTOR® or mortgage broker can provide you with more exact numbers. 

For Buyers: 

Costs can range from 1.5 to 5% of total purchase price, excluding down payment. For example, a purchase price of $250,000 would yield:

• Inspections: $400-$500

• Mortgage application (could be waived) $200-$400

• Mortgage insurance $2000

• Legal fees $900+

• GST (for new homes only) - varies

• Home and content insurance $450

• Moving and/or storage $500 

For…

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Airdire is a small city in Alberta located at the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor. It is also a part of Calgary region and is just a few miles north of Calgary International Airport. Its local economy rely on local and regional retail, professional services, and construction and manufacturing industries. It is one of the most sought-after cities in Alberta because of its location. Airdrie was known for being a “bedroom community” because of its proximity to Calgary.

What is a Bedroom Community?

“Bedroom community” is a term used to describe a residential area where majority of the residents work or perform somewhere else. This means that the occupations, schools, or businesses of most residents of Airdrie are located outside their locale.

3 Factors…

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Should you buy a brand new home that you can customize, or choose a resale one that's move-in ready? Both options present advantages, and there is no right answer, it's totally up to the buyer. We've outlined a couple benefits of each:

Buying New

• Personalized home: with new homes you can choose the colours, fixtures and upgrades such as lighting and flooring
• New homes are built up to current building codes and standards
• Lower maintenance costs: newer homes tend to have lower maintenance costs as all of the materials are brand new
• Builder warranties: the majority of home builders offer warranties for new homes

Buying Resale

• Easy access: homes in established neighbourhoods are in close proximity to services, parks, schools, etc
• Home…

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